How two politicians exploited county links to grab prime Kiambu postal land

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi (in blue suit) assesses the damage caused by goons who destroyed and looted businesses in Kiambu Town bus park [George Njunge/ Standard] A land dispute has erupted in Kiambu, with two influential politicians accused of using their connections within the county government to facilitate the illegal takeover of land belonging to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK). The prime property, approximately one and a half acres, is located near a major bus stop in the heart of Kiambu town. It houses a post office but is now at risk of being lost to private developers in a scheme allegedly involving compromised police officers. Documents obtained by The Standard indicate that PCK has repeatedly been blocked from securing the land, with police failing to provide protection despite multiple requests. The Standard established that encroachers have already begun constructing structures, while PCK's attempts to fence off the area have been met with resistance from hired goons. Efforts to reach Kiambu County officials for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to Governor Kimani Wamatangi went unanswered. Pleas ignored A series of letters between PCK, the Kiambu County government, and the police reveal that the state corporation has made several formal requests for assistance in securing the land-only to have its pleas ignored. On March 6, 2025, Postmaster General John Tanui wrote to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, requesting security reinforcement during the fencing of the property. He emphasised that police presence was necessary to prevent unlawful interference and to ensure the safety of workers involved in the project. "Despite reporting this development to the OCPD and OCS Kiambu and requesting assistance, the matter remains unresolved, and encroachment persists," Tanui stated in his letter, which was also copied to the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the National Land Commission (NLC). PCK officials claim they have faced continued resistance, with some county police officers allegedly siding with the encroachers instead of enforcing the law. Police officers and locals told The Standard that there was high-level political interference, with sources indicating that two well-connected Kiambu politicians are at the centre of the scheme. "We see them here supervising activities, including the construction of perimeter wall," said an officer privy to a report filed at Kiambu Police Station by PCK under OB number 51/17/03/2025. According to insiders, the politicians have used their influence within the county government to frustrate PCK's efforts to fence off the land. "This is a case of abuse of power by individuals who are supposed to protect public property but are instead working to benefit private interests," a source familiar with the situation said. Both county and Kiambu police officials have remained silent on the matter, with no clear indication of whether action will be taken against the encroachers. Meanwhile, PCK continues to face legal and administrative hurdles in its bid to reclaim the land. On February 28, 2025, Senior Deputy County Commissioner T.M Macharia wrote to the Kiambu OCPD requesting security support for PCK's fencing exercise. However, no action was taken. "The Postmaster General has written to us on the above-cited subject matter via letter Ref: DF:720/28/2/2025. The purpose of this letter is therefore to ask that you provide the security support requested," Macharia wrote. Despite this official request, PCK's efforts were met with resistance, with reports indicating that some Kiambu police officers have refused to intervene due to political pressure. When PCK filed a trespass case in Kiambu, a magistrate's court declined to hear the dispute on March 6, ruling that it should be resolved administratively. The court's decision has left PCK with limited options, as both law enforcement and county officials appear unwilling to act.

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